Mine-car cager



' 1. A. NOLAN. M INE CAR CAGER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1919. 1,337,944. ented Apr. 20, 1920.

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J. A. NOLAN.

MINE CAR cAeEm APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1919.

1,337, 94:4. I e te Apr- 20, 1920.

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1. A. NOLAN.

MINE CAR CAGER. APPLICATION FILED nov. 3. 1919.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

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JAMES A. NOLAN, OF BOWERS'ION, OHIO.

MINE-CAR CAGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

Application filed November 3, 1919. Serial No. 335,344.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ji-inns A. NOLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bowerston, in the county of Harrison and State of Ohio, have invented new and use ful Improvements in Mine-Car Cagers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to means designed to automatically feed cars of coal, ore or other material to a cage or dump, at the bottom, top, or intermediate landings of a mine shaft; to automatically stop cars on a cage or dump in position for hoisting or dumping, and to automatically release the car after the same has been emptied; such means being actuated by the cage or dump, or by the cars, as conditions may require.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a caging device composed of few parts and which may be installed at low cost. A further object is to provide a device employing but a single pair of stops whereas devices of this general character heretofore in use employ two pairs of stops thus necessitating duplication of parts and complicated operating means. Another object is to provide very sim 1e and eflieient means for moving and normally holding the main operating shaft of the eager into either of its operative positions. Another ObJBCt is to provide simple and efiicient means whereby the eager may be thrown into or out of operation as desired. Further objects willappear from the detailed descrlption.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of the eager as applied.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View of the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail of one of the stops and parts associated therewith.

Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly broken away, with a car holding and releasing means adapted for use in connection with the eager applied.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental deta1l, partly in section, of the same.

Fig. 6 is a detail of the trip arm of the eager.

Fig. 7 is a section taken substantlally on line 7-7 of Fig. 1. l

Fig. 8 is a detail of a modified tripping means for use with a rotary dump toward a cage shaft or pit Fig. 9 is a section line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail of another modified form of tripping means for use with a tilting dump.

Fig. 11 is a section taken line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a detail of of the eager.

Fig. 13 is a detail of the spring means for throwing the main operating shaft into either of its operative positions.

This eager is intended to be used in connection with a' track inclined downwardly at one side thereof, a cage or dump of known type being operable in the shaft and having associated therewith; at the other side of the pit, another section of track constituting a landing; all of which is now well known in this art, and need not therefore be further described in detail. The form of eager disclosed herein is intended, more particularly, as an improvement and simplification of the cagers disclosed in my United States Patents 1,254,621, 1,301,732 and 1,293,519 dated January 22nd, 1918, February 4th, 1919, and April 22, 1919, respectively; and in m pending application Serial Number 232,097 filed May 2, 1918.

In the improved'form of my invention I )rovide an operating shaft 1 rockably supported by hangers 2 between the rails a of the inclined track section. This shaft is provided at one end with a radially extending arm 3 secured thereon provided at its outer end with a pin or finger 4 to which is secured one end of a tension spring 5 the other end of which is secured to a plate 6 or other fastening device. The shaft has limited rocking movement in either direction, the amplitude of this movement being through an arc of approximately 60 in practice, though this may be varied to suit circumstances. The point of attachment of the lower end of the spring 5 is so related to the shaft that, when the shaft is rocked through one half of its are of movement, by means to be described, a straight line conneeting the ends of the spring will intercept the line of the axis of the shaft, (Fig. 13). The spring is thus rendered double acting and may be used to throw the shaft into either of its operative positions and hold it taken substantially on substantially on the car actuated trip in adjustment. As will be understood, a weight may be substituted for the spring or the stops themselves may be weighted to act to hold the shaft in rocked adjustment. The operation in either case is the same, though under certain conditions I prefer the spring as giving quicker and more positive action.

A collar 7 is secured on the shaft and is provided with two diametrically opposite arms 8 connected by links 9 to fingers 10 formed rigid with stops 11 rockable and slidable on supportin rods 12 supported on the outer sides of rails a in parallelism therewith. A cushion spring 13 is mounted about each rod between the stop and the inner bracket supporting the rod, these springs acting as shock absorbers in the known manner. the outer sides of the treads of the rails and to project inwardly over the rails, as in Fig. 7, for engagement with the front wheels of the forward one of a train of cars supported by the track, when the shaft is in normal or holding position.

The other end of shaft 1 projects into a pit 6 adapted to receive a vertically movable cage 0 of known type carrying rail sections d which, when the cage is lowered, register with rails a of the approach and rails 6 (Fig. 4) of the landing. The cage is provided with a depending trip member let positioned and adapted for engagement with a trip arm 15 secured upon the forward end of shaft 1. This arm is of hinged construction (Fig. 6), comprising inner and outer sections 15 and 15 respectively, so connected as to permit free raising of the outer section and cause depressing of the inner section when the outer section is depressed thus rocking the shaf As the cage is lowered into the pit, arm 15 is depressed sufficiently to turn the shaft in a counterclockwise direction, as considered in Fig. 1, through an arc of slightly more than 30 degrees. When the spring 5 passes below the line of the axis of the shaft it acts to turn or throw the shaft still farther into full releasing position so as to move the stops 11 into 0 en position (Fig. 1) the shaft being then eld in this position by the spring. This releases the first car of the train supported upon the tracks a and permits it to travel down these tracks onto the rail sections (Z of the cage 0, this loaded car serving to push an empty car supported by the cage onto the landing, it being understood that the cage is provided with suitable car holding and releasing means.

As the loaded car travels down the rails a the flange or the face of one of the forward wheels thereof engages the outer arm of a tripping device or lever 16 rockably .mounted adjacent the rail (Fig. 1), either inside or outside of the same, the inner arm The stops are adapted to fit about of which is connected by a chain 17, or in any other suitable manner to a turning arm 18 secured to the shaft, outward movement of the outer arm of lever 16 being limited by the adjacent rail, as will be understood. This serves to rock the shaft in a clockwise direction through a sufficient arc to bring spring 5 above the axis of shaft 1, the spring then acting to complete the turning of the shaft and to hold it in normal position. 'As will be understood, the trip member 1 1 is of such length that its foot passes out of contact with and below arm 15, as the cage approaches its full lowered position (Fig. 2), thus permitting return of the shaft to normal position in the manner stated. In this manner the cars of a train may be automatically cut out one at a time and loaded upon the cage, or caged as this operation is commonly termed. WVhile I have described the operation of the cager as caging the cars singly, by varying the distance between the stops 11 and the trip lever 16 the apparatus may be readily adjusted to cage cars in groups of two or more, as desired, as will be readily understood. Also, if desired, lever 16 may be placed at the opposite side of the stops from that illustrated the second car of the train, in this instance, being employed for closing the stops. I have found this arrangement very desirable under some conditions. After the car or cars, as the case may be, have been caged the cage is raised in the known manner, trip member 14 contacting with and raising the outer section 15 of arm 15 which returns to its normal position by gravity. )Vhen it is desired to utilize the cage for other purposes than handling cars, such as lowering or raising the miners into or out of the mine, outer section 15 of arm 15 may beturned upwardly so as to rest upon section 15 out of the path of travel of member 14:. This provides very simple and eflicient means whereby the cager may be readily thrown into or out of operation as conditionsmay require.

In Figs. 8 and 9, I have illustrated my cager adapted for use with a rotary dump of known type, indicated generally by A. The dump is provided with a trip member 14c adapted to engage a rigid trip arm 15 corresponding to arm 15 secured upon shaft 1. As will be understood, as the dump is turned into loading position, member, 1 1 engages arm 15 and rocks it in a clockwise direction beyond the vertical plane of the axis of the shaft, after which the shaft is rocked in the same direction by the spring so as to perniit a loaded car to travel into the dump, the shaft being returned to normal or holding position in the manner pre viously described.

In Figs. 10 and 11, I have illustrated an other modification by which my eager is adapted for use with a tilting dump B. In this form, the dump is provided with a trip member 14 adapted for cooperation with a hinged arm 15 corresponding to arm 15. Arm 15 is secured upon a counter shaft 1 mounted below shaft 1. This counter shaft is provided with a collar 19 secured thereon and provided with diametrically opposite arms 20 which are connected to similar arms 21 of a collar 22 secured on shaft 1, by links 23. By this means, when either shaft is rocked corresponding movement will be imparted to the other shaft.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have illustrated the form of car holding and releasing means for the cage which I prefer to employ in conjunction with my eager, though other means may be employed if desired or required. A plate 25 is secured upon thetop of the floor 26 of the cage and is provided with bearing members 27 which rockably support a shaft 28 disposed longitudinally of the cage. This shaft is provided at the end thereof adjacent arm 15 with an arm 29 secured thereon correspondnig to arm 3 of shaft 1. A tension spring30 has one end attached to this arm and its other end secured to the cage, this spring acting in the same manner as spring 5 to rock shaft 28 and hold it in rocked adjustment. The shaft is provided at its other end with a trip arm 31 rigid therewith having an outer section 32 hinged fordownward movement and normally held in raised position by a retractile spring 33, this arm corresponding in construction to arm 15 of shaft 1 but acting oppositely thereto.

Shaft 28 is further provided, adjacent arm 31 with a stop arm 34 extending radially of the shaft and adapted, when in raised position, to extend in front of a car upon the cage so as to form a stop therefor. A block 35 is positioned adjacent one of the rail sections (Z, and is secured upon the upper end of a shaft 36 rockably mounted through the floor of the cage. The outer portion of this block is cut-out or faced as at 37, Fig. 12, to fit against the inner side of the rail (Z forming a finger 38 which extends across the tread of the rail. An arm 39 is secured upon the lower end of shaft 36 and is connected by a chain 40 to a turning arm 41 secured to shaft 28, this arm 41 extending through a slot 42 through plate 25 so as to limit turning of the shaft in either direction.

As the cage is lowered into the pit with an empty car, the shaft 28 being turned so as to position holding arm 34 vertically, outer section 32 of trip arm 31 contacts with a trip member 43 projecting from the landing. This, together with spring 30, serves to rock the shaft into the position illustrated in Fig. 4, thus removing stop arms 34 from in front of the car which is then pushed off of the cage onto the landing by a loaded car which enters the cage from the approach, as previously described. As the loaded car enters the cage, trip block 35 is rocked so as to return shaft 28 to its holding position, arm 34 being raised in front of the car and block 35 being normally held against the adjacent rail section (Z by a leaf spring 44, or in any other suitable manner, so as to form a chock for the back wheel of the car. hen the cage is raised, the outer section 32 of arm 31 will swing downwardly to pass trip member 43, being then returned to normal position by spring 33. To permit free turning of shaft 28 in either direction, arm 31 is disposed at an angle of less than 180 degrees to arm 34. so that when the shaft is rocked into the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the trip arm will clear trip member 43 but will engage this member when holding arm. 34 is raised, it being understood that the slot 42 is so related to the shaft 28 that the are at one side of the vertical plane of the axis of the shaft through which the shaft is rocked is less than the are at the other side of this plane.

While I have illustrated and described the cager as used in connection with the approach to a pit, this mechanism may be equally well employed in connection with a cage or dump for receiving and holding cars, and I intend to include this and analogous uses of my invention in this application. In practice, and as indicated herein, it may be found desirable to make slight changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts, and I intend to in clude all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which a preferred form only of my invention is disclosed.

What I claim is:

1. In caging means, a rockable shaft, means adapted to be actuated by a mo cable member for rocking said shaft a predetermined extent in one direction, car actuated means for rocking the shaft a predetermined eXtent in the other direction, means for completing the rocking movement of the shaft in either direction and for holding said shaft in rocked adjustment, a pair of car stop members, and connections between said members and the shaft for moving the stops into and out of operative position in accordance with rocking of the shaft.

2. The combination with a rail track, of a Iockable shaft, stops rocicably mounted adjacent the rails of said track for movement toward and away from the same, operating connections between said stops and the shaft, cage actuated means for rocking the shaft a predetermined extent in one direction, car actuated means for rocking said shaft a predetermined extent in the other direction, and means for completing the rocking movement of the shaft in either direction and for holding said shaft in rocked adjustment.

3. The combination with a rail track, of a rockable shaft, stops rockably mounted adjacent the rails for movement toward and away from the same, operating connections between said stops and the shaft, cage actuated means for rocking the shaft in one direction, car actuated means for rocking the car in the other direction, an arm secured to said shaft and projecting radially therefrom, and a tension spring secured to said arm at one end, the point of attachment of the other end of said spring being such that this point and the point of attacl'iment of the spring to the arm are in alinement diametrically of the shaft when said shaft is rocked through one half of the whole extent of its travel in either direction.

4. The combination with a rail track, of a rockable shaft, a trip arm secured on said shaft for engagement by a relatively movable member for rocking the shaft a predetermined extent in one direction, a turning arm secured to the shaft, a turning lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having one arm flexibly connected to said turning arm and its other arm normally over- I lying the adjacent rail so as to be moved inwardly by the wheel of a car traveling upon the rails for rocking the shaft a predetermined extent in the other direction, means for completing rocking movement of the shaft in either direction and for holding it 'in rocked adjustment, stops movable toward and away from said rails, and operating connections between said stops and the shaft.

5. The combination with a rail track constituting an approach, of a shaft rockably supported between the rails of said track and extending beyond the discharge end thereof, an arm secured upon the end of said shaft at the discharge end of said track and adapted for engagement by a relatively movable member so as to rock the shaft in one direction, a pair of stops rockably mounted adjacent the rails for movement toward and away from the same, connections between said stops and the shaft for rocking the stops toward the rails into holding position when the shaft is rocked by said movable member and for moving the stops away from the rails into releasing position when the shaft'is rocked in the other direction, and car actuated means positioned between said stops and the arm for rocking the shaft in said other direction.

6. In combination with a cage, a shaft rockably mounted thereon and provided with a car holding arm, said shaft being further provided at one end with a tripping arm adaptedfor engagement with a tripping member for rocking the shaft in one direction for lowering said holding arm as the cage approaches loading position, and means adapted and positioned to be actuated by a car moving upon said cage for rocking said shaft in the other direction for raising said arm, said means being adapted to form a back'chock for the car.

' 7 In combination with a rail track, stops positioned adjacent said rails and mounted for movement toward and away from same, a rockable shaft, operating connections between said shaft and the stops, car actuated means for rocking the shaft in such direction as to move said stops into car holding position, a trip member movable relative to said shaft, and a trip arm connected to the shaft and positioned in the path of movement of said trip member for rocking the shaft in the other direction so as to move said stop members into car releasing position, said arm being movable into or out of the path of movement of said trip member.

8. Incombination with a rail track, stops positioned adjacent said rails and mounted for movement toward and away from same, a rockable shaft, connections between said shaft and the stops for moving the stops into car releasing position when the shaft is rocked in a predetermined direction, a trip member movable relative to the shaft, and a trip arm connected to the shaft for rocking it in stop releasing direction, said arm projecting into the path of movement of the trip member and being optionally movable V out of said path of movement.

9. In combination with a ra1l track, stops positioned adjacent said rails and mounted for movement toward and away from same, a rockable shaft, connections between said shaft and the stops for moving the stops into car releasing position when the shaft is rocked in a predetermined direction, a vertically movable trip member, and an arm secured on said shaft and projecting into the path of movement of said trip member, said arm being provided with a hingedly secured outer trip member engaging section having its movement in one direction relative to the inner section of the arm positively limited so as to normally extend in substantial alinement therewith, said outer section being adjustable about its hinge in the other direction so as to be positioned out of the path of movement of said trip member. r

10. In combination with a cage carrying rail sections, a shaft rockably mounted on the cage and provided with an intermediate holding arm, said shaft having at one-end a tripping arm adapted for engagement with a trip member so as to initially turn the shaft in one direction to lower said holding arm as the cage approaches loading position, a rockable member positioned adjacent one of said rail sections so as to have its outward movement positively limited thereby, said member being positioned to be rocked inwardly by the wheel of a car enlng said shaft in rocked adjustment.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES A. NOLAN. 

